Why have there been no Great Women Artists?

Or have there? Of course there have, but they have been relegated to the back-bench for centuries.

Thankfully times are changing.

Linda Nochlin’s ground-breaking essay, Why have there been no Great Women Artists? was the first of many feminist attacks on the Western art historical canon to rock the boat. She paved the way for a brighter more egalitarian future to which thankfully we are ebbing closer and closer.

Following in Nochlin's formidable footsteps is The Great Women Artists Instagram account, founded by Katy Hessel in 2015, and, now a new exhibition of work at Grace Belgravia Spa (21 Feb - 8 April).

Featuring the work of four women emerging artists, Ladies' Paradise explores notions of the body and women's internal desires through multi-disciplinary figurative and abstract works.

Ahead of the exhibition, we look at some of the great female artists joining the conversation on Instagram.

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Alice Joiner (@alicejoiner)

The London-based photographer predominantly captures intimate relationships, between young women. Her deeply personal stills explore the transitional moment when girls flourish into young women and discover themselves as sexual beings.

In a series of self-portraits published in 2017, Joiner traced her devastating journey through an eating disorder, drug use, and depression, to her ultimate recovery. Although harrowing, the series is a visual and intellectual masterpiece.